Lifting device



A. jF. KLASING. LIFTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILEDJUNE 7, 1919.

1,420,555. Patented June 20, 1922,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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parte ras Para fr eri-ies AUGUSTUS F. 4KLASING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, `'ASSIGNOR TO -THE KLASING CAR BRAKE COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F COLORADO.

LIr'rIG/DEVIGE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jun-e r2O, 1922.

Application filed .Tune 7,`1919.- Serial No. 302,565.

r-Vor lifting device lwhich may be used for .l0

various purposes, and has for its object to provide certain novel and improved mechanism whereby longitudinal movement, a lifting movement particularly, may be given to a rack member and such member held,l releasably, inthe position to which it is moved.

A further object is to provide means whereby the holding device is automatically reset to'its operative position by return movement of the rack member when released.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a lifting device or power applying mechanismHcon-s structed in accord-ance with'my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.` n Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and i i I Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on Fig. 2.

The device as illustrated comprises a housing 1 having lugs 2 for attachment to -the structure on which the device is used. The housing isv formed on one of its inner surfaces with a rack lVithin the housing is a vertically movable rack bar 14 formed with teeth 16 adapted to be engaged' by a rolling or floating pinion 30 which travels along the fixed rack 3. Preferably anti-friction balls 5 are arranged in ,raceways 4 formed in the housing, against which balls bear the surfaces 17 of the rack bar 14. The pinion 30 line of .is secured to a ratchet wheel 32, the latter being provided with 'a hub 33 which extends through an elongated slot 11 in the housing. The hub has a squared portion 20 engaging the pinion 30, the parts being'held together by a bolt 3l. On the inner side of the pinion 30 is a washer 39 adapted to project into an elongated slot 40 inthe housing'l opposite slot 11. Pivotally arranged with reference to the ratchet wheel 32 and held in -place by the bolt 31 is an operating lever 34 to which is attached by pivot pin 35 a pawl 36 adapted to coact with the ratchet wheel 32. The pawl is formed with a tail piece 37 and the housing 1. with a flange 9 disposed parallel to the upward travel of the pawl against which the pawlis pressed, to disengage it from the ratchet when the lever is given a reverse,` that is to say, a downward movement. The lever is preferably formed with a housing 38 to protect the ratchet wheel.

A detent device :is provided for holding the rack bar 14v at any 'desired elevation.

Thisdevice comprises two racks or sets of holding teeth 8 formed on thehousing 1 on opposite sides of the vertical slot'6 thereof and a double detent 21 pivotedl 'to and straddling a projection 15 on the rack bar 14, said detent being formed with toothed portions 2,3 adapted to engage the teeth 8. A tripping device 25.wliich has a yoke por'- tion 26 extending around the detent 21 is mounted on the same pivot -pin 19 employed. for pivoting the detent to projection 15.

The tripping device is formed` with' an internal slot 28 into which projects the transverse web 22 connecting the two legs 24 of the detent. `The tripping device 25 is formed with a stud 29 adapted to come into4 contact with a cam 13` formed on the housing when the rack bar approaches the ylower limit of its travel to turn the trip member 25 to a position in which it will bring the detent intol operative contact with the teeth-8. The trip member isformed for convenience Ywith a handle 27 for setting it to a position in which it will disengage the detent from the holding teeth 8.

Summary of operation: The rack 14 is raised, step by step, by intermittent oscillations in an upward direction of the lever 34. At the beginning of each reverse movement of the lever detent 21 engages the holding teeth 8 to vprevent the rack bar from falling and the pawl 36 is disengaged from the ratchet 32 by the tail piece 37 of the pawl coming into contact with flange 9 on the housing.y To release the rack ba-r the trip member 25 is tilted forwardly from the position shown in the drawings so that its weight is brought to bear against the detent 21, that is, the shoulder at the left hand end of slot 28 (Fig. 3) is brought to bear against the web 22 of the detent. This does not force the detent from the holding teeth 8 (assuming a downwardV stress on the rack bar) but as soon as the rack barhas been relieved of .this stress, which is accomplished by slight u'pward or forward movement of the operating lever; the detent, under weight of the tripping device, will drop and be held away from the teeth 8. The operator releases the lever and the pull on the rack bar `transmitted to the lever through the ratchet and pawl mechanism, imparts a reverse movement to the lever which causes the tail 37 of the pawl to come against t-he flange 9 so as to disengage the pawl from the ratchet wheel 32. As the rack bar drops the lever is disconnected from the ratchet so that it receives no appreciable reaction. It will be observed that the automatic disengagement of the lever from the ratchet takes place immediately for all working positions of' the lever.

As rack bar 14 approaches the limit of its downward movement the stud 29 comes into contact with cam 13 andthe tripping device 25 and detent 21 are returned to their holding positions. I

lhat l claim and'desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a lifting device a fixed rack, a floating gear coacting with said rack, a movable member coact-ing with said gear, adapted to be given multiplied movement thereby; a housing adapted to enclose the moving parts; a step by step actuating means associated with the floating gear; means for holding the movable member in the raised position; means to automatically releasethe holding means and return the movable parts to initial position instantaneously; means` t-o automatically reset the holding means lsimultaneously with the return of the parts to initial position 2.1n combination a fixed gear rack, a movable spur gear operable upon said rack, a movable rack coacting with said movable gear; a bearing for said movable rack. means associated with said movable rack to hoid the saine in raised position; means associated with the holding means adapted to maintain the same in engagement and adapted to automatically release the holding means from engagement; and step b v step meansto actuate the spur gear and the movable rack.l

3. A lifting device, comprising a Jframe provided internally with a fixed rack; interna-l anti-friction bearings, a sliding rack adapted to slide upon the anti-friction bearings; a spur. gear coacting with the fixed rack and the sliding rack adapted to secure multiplied lifting; step b v step actuating means associated with the movable spur gear; means associated with the sliding rack and means coacting therewith associated with the fixed rack for providing a locking engagement ofr the sliding rack at varying elevations; an actuating means associated with the spur gear; automatic means to release the locking engagement for return of A the sliding rack to initial position; and auto- 'in raised position; means adapted to be set to release the holding means for return of the movable rack to initial position through operation ot theactuating means.

5. In combination a spur gear mounted for rotation and bodily movement, a'fixed rack engaged by said gear, a sliding rack coacting wit-li said gear, a power applying lever associated with said spur gear, a pawland-ratchet mechanism transmitting the movement of the lever to said gear; means associated with said lever to automatically release the pawl from its ratchet engagement at any point of the movement ot the spur gear along the line of the fixed rack; and locking means operably associated with the -n'iovahle rack and with the fixed rack,

6. In a device for the purposes described a lifting means consisting of a fixed rack; a` floating spur gear and a movable rack meshing and coacting with the spur gear; means for giving step by step rotary movements to the spur gear; a detent associated with the' movable rack; retaining means engageable b v the detent which is associated with the fixed rack: means to automatically release lthe movable rack from locking engagement at any point of elevation to allow the same to fall; means to automatically reset the locking mechanism simultaneously with the return of movable parts to initial position.

,7. In a device ofthe Character described a housing. a fixed rack in said housing; antiyfriction bearings operable upon the walls of the housing opposite to said rack; a sliding rack adapted to slide upon the antiiriction bearings; a bodily movable spur gear mounted to engage the fixed rack and the movable rack; power applying means associated with the spur gear; means for locking the movable rack at any point of its travel: means to instantaneously release the movable rack for return toinitial position; automatic means to reset the locking mechanism simultaneously with the return of the movable rack to initial position.

8. In combination, a'rectangular housing; a fixed rack upon one of the internal sides of said housing, an anti-'friction bearing operable upon theopposite internal-side of the housing, a spur gearengaging the said rack, a sliding rack engaging said gear, a slot `upon the face of said housing opposite the the driven element.

the sliding rack, means for propelling the spur gear; means upon said housing to limit the travel of the spur gear in either direction of its propulsion; means to automatically lock the sliding rack-at any position of its travel; means to release the locking means; a lug associated with the housing and a pin associated with the locking mechanism adapted to causean automatic return ofthe locking mechanism to locking position when the lifting mechanism is returned to its initial positlon. v

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination o f'a driven element, a driving member provided with releasable means for engaging the driven element, a detent for holding the driven element in the position to which it is moved, means adapted to be set to render said detent inoperative as soon as stress on the driven element is relieved by 'forward' movement of the driving member, means actuated upon reverse movement of the driving member for disengaging the driving memberfrom the driven element, and means whereby the detent is automatically reset to its holding position at the completion of the return movement of 10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a driven element provided with ratchet teeth, a drivingT member having a pawl for engaging lsaid teeth,

'y l a detent for holding the driven velement in the position to which it is moved, means adapted to be gatti ,render saidaletent inv rotation to the pinion, a detent to hold the a pinion to engage said rack and .impart movement' thereto, an operating lever, a pawl and ratchet mechanism associated `with the pinion and lever for giving step by step rotation to the pinion, la detent to hold .the rack in the extended position, a trip member which may be set to render the detent inoperative as soon as the rackis relieved of stress by forward movement of the. lever, means whereby a reverse movement of the -lever disengages the pawl from said ratchet, and means for automatic-ally re-setting the trip andv detent to their holding positions when the rack,'on release, lreaches the end of its travel.

14. In apparatus 0f the-character' de-l scribed, thev combination of a stationary rack, a movable rack, a pinion having interengagement with said racks and movable along the stationary rack, a Aratchet wheel fixed to said pinion, an operating lever provided with a pawl to engage said ratchet wheel, a detent to hold the movable rack in theextended position, altnipemembcry adaptoperative as soon as stress on the driven elefed to be set to render the detentinoperative ment is relieved by a forward movement of the driving member. means actuated upon reverse movement of the driven member and at any working position thereof for immediately ldisengaging the pawl from said ratchet teeth, and means whereby the detent is automatically re-set to its holding position at the completion of the return movement of the driven element.

1l. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a movable rack, a pinion to engage said rack and impart 1 movement thereto, an operating lever, a

pawl and ratchetfmechanism associated with the pinion and lever for kgiving step by step rotation to the pinion, a detent to hold the rack in the extended position. a trip member which may be set to render the detent'inoperative as 'soon as the rac-k is relieved of stress by forward 4movement of the lever, and means whereby a reversil movement of the lever disengages the pawl from saidratchet. i

12. In apparatus of the 'character described, the combination of a movable rack. a pinion to engage said rack and impartmovement thereto, an operating lever, a pawl and ratchet mechanism associated with the pinion and lever for giving step by step 4as S'oonas the movable rack is relieved of the stationary rack, a ratchetv wheel fixedL to said pinion, an operating lever having a pawl pivoted thereto to engage said ratchet, a detentI to hold thev movablerack in the extended position, a trip member which may be set to render the detent inoperative as soon as the rack'is relieved of stress by forward movement of the lever, and means providinga surface extending parallel to the travel of said pinion with which lsaid pawl is engaged, on reverse movement of the lever, to disconnect it from the ratchet.

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a stationary rack, a movable rack, a pinion having interengagement with said racks and movablealong the stationary rack, a ratchet wheel fixed to said pinion, an operating lever having a pawl pivoted thereto to engage said ratchet, a detent to hold the movable rack in the extended position, a trip member which may be set to render the detent inoperative assoon as the` rack is relieved of stress by forward movement of the lever, means providing a surface extending parallel to the travel of said pinion with which said pawl is engaged, on reverse movement of the lever, to disconnect it from the ratchet, and means operative. when the movable rack on release reaches the end of its travel, to re-set said detent and tripping member to their holding positions.

17. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a housing having an internal, vertically disposed rack,ra

rackbar movable upwardly through said housing, a pinion interposed between said rack and rack bar and adapted to travel along the rack, a ratchet wheel fixed to said pinion, an operating lever provided with a pivot pawl for engagement with said ratchet wheel, a detent pivoted to said rack bar,'a

Vseries of holding teeth on the housing engageable by said detent, a tripping device pivoted to the rack bar and adapted to be set either to maintain the detent in engagement with the holding teeth tomove the same away from the holding teeth, means on the housing providing a surfacey extending parallel to the travel of the pinion for dis-- engaging the pawl from the ratchet on reverse movement of the lever, and a projection on the housing adapted to engage said tripping member and re-set the same and said detent to their operative positions when the rack bar'on releasereaches the lower A limit of its travel.

18. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a rack bar movable in the direction of its length, driving means to impart movement to the rack bar comprising a pinion to engage the rack bar and a lever to rotate the pinion, a detent to hold the rack bar in its extendedposition, a trip member which may be set to render the detent inoperative as Soon as the rack bar is relieved of stress-by a forward movement of the lever, and means whereby a reverse movement of the lever frees the rack bar from the driving means to allow the same to return to the position from which it was moved.

19- In apparatus of the character described,.the combination of a longitudinally. movable rack bar, a lever provided withmeans for imparting movement to the rack bar when said lever is rotated in one direction, which means releases the rack bar when the lever is rotated in the other direction, a detent for holding the rack bar in the position to which it is moved, and means adapted to be set to render said detent inoperative as soon as stress on the rack bar is relieved by another forward'movement of 'I the lever.

20. A lifting device comprising a bar,"

means -for moving said bar longitudinally to exert a pull, mechanism engaging said bar i for preventing reverse movement thereof, means for releasing" said mechanism to permit a reverse movement of said bar, and meansfor automatically re-engaging said mechanism with said bar when the same has reached the limit of its reverse movement.

21. A lifting mechanism comprising a ratchet bar, a dog engaging said bar for preventing reverse movement thereof, means for disengaging said dog, and means independent of said disengaging means for automatically causing-thel re-engagement of said dog with said bar when the ratchetl bar returns to its initial position.

22. A lifting mechanism comprising a' housing, a rack bar movable longitudinally in said housing, a rack on said-bar, a rack on said` housing opposite the first named rack, a

floating gear between said racks and mesh- 

